AUSTIN, Texas–In a city where home values have been skyrocketing, a number of credit unions here again came together to help build a house in partnership with Habitat for Humanity.
The fifth annual wall-raising for the “House that Credit Unions Built” continued an initiative that began in 2020 when University FCU formed a coalition of seven cooperatives that UFCU said embodies the Cooperative Principles of “Cooperation Among Cooperatives” and “Concern for the Community.”
Over the past four years, this initiative has raised over $300,000, built four homes for 11 family members, and garnered the support of over 1,000 employee volunteers.
In addition to UFCU, this year’s CU participants included Austin Telco, Greater Texas Federal Credit Union, Velocity Credit Union, and the Austin Chapter of Credit Unions.
Providing ‘Hope’
“As financial institutions, we know that a home is the largest investment someone will make in their lifetime. It is also a tool that allows people to create generational financial security, and as Austin thrives, we’re also seeing the gap between prosperity and disparity grow wider,” UFCU EVP-Member Experience Chris Turnley said in a statement. “That is why this group of credit unions has joined together with Austin Habitat for Humanity for our fifth ‘House that Credit Unions Built’ project. Credit unions were founded to provide access to affordable capital and, in essence, hope. And a home brings hope.”